This report examines the current deficit for geriatricians and Care of the Elderly (COE) Physicians working within each Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) against an established ratio. We also estimate the future deficit by calculating the anticipated need by 2025 taking into account physicians estimated to retire 40 years from their medical degree and adding newly trained geriatricians working in Ontario.
We planned to make transparent where there are current gaps in the provision of expertise in Specialized Geriatric Services and Seniors Mental Health within each of the 14 LHINs. We also wanted to identify for LHINs where additional resources are needed to create and expand teams to work with specialists in geriatrics. We also wanted subspecialty trainees and HealthForce Ontario to know in which communities there are unmet needs and where the trainees in geriatric medicine, geriatric psychiatry and COE can be supported by specialized geriatric teams.
This is the second in a series of reports generated from the SGS Asset Mapping Project (see related resources).
Background – The Specialized Geriatric Services (SGS) Asset Mapping Project
The Regional Geriatric Programs (RGPs) of Ontario, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, is collecting comprehensive data related to specialized geriatric programs and services in the province of Ontario.
Specialized Geriatric Services (SGS) are defined as a comprehensive, coordinated system of hospital and community-based health and mental health services that assess, diagnose, and treat frail seniors. These services are provided across the continuum of care by interdisciplinary teams with expertise in care of the elderly. SGS is inclusive of both geriatric medicine and geriatric psychiatry services, along with Care of the Elderly Primary Care (and related primary care memory services) and Behavioural Supports.
This project will inform a current state view of the supply and utilization of health services designed for older people living with frailty (e.g. specialized geriatric services) and will contribute to future capacity planning.